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Foreign Service and grad school
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Date: June 23rd, 2009 11:10 AM Author: Diverse Drunken Dingle Berry Mother Subject: Foreign Service and grad schools Having read a bit on this board, I wanted to clear a misperception that seems widespread here -- which graduate school you went to does not have a huge impact on getting into the foreign service, and once you're in, it makes even less impact.
If you want a foreign policy job in DC, great, go for the high power masters, but for those who want to work in the foreign service, just know, it's not a huge help. I'm an FSO, I came in with a BA and no experience, and I know many colleagues who have a varied career path -- and I can't think of anyone who has benefited from a high profile MA degree.
I've never had anyone ask about my degree when I sought a position, and I've never asked someone interested in a position where they went to school -- all that matters in the foreign service is what you've done in the Foreign Service.
So, if the Foreign Service is your goal, and what you want to make your career (rather than just a way-post job), don't think you have to spend big dollars for the best schools and an MA. IMHO. |
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Date: June 23rd, 2009 11:16 AM Author: infuriating pontificating cuck cumskin A Masters degree does allow you to start at GS-9 rather than GS-7 - which is almost 10K/year difference. Plus they offer loan repayment for foreign posts in certain circumstances. So while the degree may not be necessary, it does seem to pay for itself.
I think it's interesting that many other country's foreign services have higher standards for their employees than we do in terms of education and language ability (almost every other FS REQUIRES foreign language ability for instance). Furthermore, our written examination is easier then most other exams. Many of our FSOs would never make into other foreign services, such as the British and German ones. Instead, we filter our applicants based on a bizarre examination - the oral exam - that introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
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Date: June 23rd, 2009 12:21 PM Author: Bronze rough-skinned office boistinker my theory is that they actually want to hire 80-90% of beta, sheep-like people, and let in a few hotshots who will go on to become ambassadors. the oral seems to random to be explained any other way (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12065409) |
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Date: June 23rd, 2009 12:49 PM Author: infuriating pontificating cuck cumskin The worst is that many people who pass this exam think that this makes them part of some special elite, qualified to look down on others, including civil service.
I'm saying this as someone that has passed the exam, so it's not bitterness talking. |
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Date: June 25th, 2009 9:57 AM Author: Bronze rough-skinned office boistinker i actualy look down on those who have passed it.
present company excluded |
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Date: November 7th, 2009 1:05 PM Author: Boyish temple trump supporter I have never taken the full blown test proper. However, in college, some FS union of sorts gave a 100 question unofficial test to any student who wanted to take it (the questions being drawn from prior official tests, or so they claimed). Out of sheer interest I went for it, and while it struck me as somewhat facile compared to say, an upper division political science test a good university, the content was appropriate for the roles that FS actually take on. Like subsequent posters note, State is an organization that requires and therefore seeks out a bunch of betas. The number of people who work on front page policy issues is pretty small, therefore setting the intellectual threshold lower is not a big deal.
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Date: June 23rd, 2009 3:14 PM Author: marvelous transparent rehab won't this, to a certain extent, change over the next 5-10 years? I heard they are slowly trying to move to a move resume based selection process. If that is the case it seems like an MA in IR will help more and more.
Disclaimer: I don't know sh*t about how the foreign service works. I'm enrolling in IR/PS this August and plan to take the exam in Feb' 10. It isn't my number one chose after graduation, but I wouldn't mind having it as an option. |
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Date: June 24th, 2009 3:07 PM Author: Burgundy Mind-boggling Crackhouse Athletic Conference I have a question that is somewhat related to this thread.
I'll be starting a grad program this fall, with an expected graduation time of 2011. I also just took the June FSOT. Hypothetically, if I passed the exam and went on to pass the Oral Assessment and was offered a FSO job, would they let me finish my graduate degree?
I'm fairly sure I've heard someone, on some forum, mention that they had a conditional offer from the State Dept. Basically, they have the job once they finish their grad program. Anyone else hear of that? |
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Date: June 24th, 2009 6:07 PM Author: topaz startling karate tank u find a place to live in DC yet dood? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12076915) |
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Date: June 24th, 2009 9:08 PM Author: Burgundy Mind-boggling Crackhouse Athletic Conference nOt yet..
want live togeths? ^_^ |
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Date: June 24th, 2009 11:11 PM Author: topaz startling karate tank Sure - I'm going Elliot too. Where are you looking to live? Want to email me off board? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12079881) |
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Date: June 25th, 2009 1:50 PM Author: infuriating pontificating cuck cumskin (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12084869) |
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Date: June 26th, 2009 9:05 AM Author: Burgundy Mind-boggling Crackhouse Athletic Conference That sounds like good advice, thank you. Hopefully I passed and will have to deal with this predicament. It'd be a good "problem" to have.
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Date: July 14th, 2009 3:43 PM Author: Sooty home love of her life Subject: PAssed the June written, and I will be entering SAIS in the fall.
Would be curious to hear what anyone knows about finishing masters and accepting FSO post. |
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Date: July 15th, 2009 3:08 PM Author: Bronze rough-skinned office boistinker there's a little thing called the oral exam sitting between you and "accepting FSO post" (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12252987) |
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Date: July 15th, 2009 4:18 PM Author: Sooty home love of her life actually the QEP, then the orals. thanks for not answering my question. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12253615) |
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Date: July 16th, 2009 1:42 PM Author: Bronze rough-skinned office boistinker my point was that the oral exam is a fucking mystery, so you've have a fucking long way to go before you "accept" you're precious lil FSO gig (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12261756) |
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Date: July 16th, 2009 10:13 PM Author: infuriating pontificating cuck cumskin The foreign service should be people's Plan B. After the QED and the oral exam there's medical and security clearances - and even then there's a good chance your score will still be too low to get an offer. If you're lucky enough to get an offer you will have a nice little puny salary waiting for you, the bottom of a totem pole, and posting to some sh**hole like Lagos or Tijuana.
Take the exams and then put all of it in the back of your head, and maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised |
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Date: July 16th, 2009 3:26 PM Author: razzmatazz scarlet roommate Post removed by moderator for violating The Law of The Land. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12262625) |
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Date: October 14th, 2009 2:42 AM Author: federal double fault place of business IR? LOL (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#12984526) |
Date: November 4th, 2009 5:35 PM Author: Purple french chef station I did the assessment day and didn't get in, and I agree it was to see how well one can be a beta. I found the entire experience disappointing...but I did it right when they went to the new system so maybe I would have been more impressed with the old process. It did help me realize that I prefer the private sector anyway. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1024970&forum_id=3#13177594) |